The study of elite basketball players’ anthropometric characteristics alongside those of body composition contributes significantly to their profiling as professional athletes and plays an important role in the selection process, as these characteristics can have a significant impact on performance. In the current study, 110 professional basketball players from a series of Spanish professional Leagues (ACB, LEB and EBA) and youth level National Teams (U20 and U18) had their anthropometric profiles measured and compared to determine differences between them. Furthermore, all 110 players were divided into three different categories according to their playing position: guards, forwards and centres. The results obtained show no significant differences between players in different competitions in weight, height and the sum of skinfolds. Nonetheless, there were several differences related to body fat content (13.03% in ACB players and 10.52% in the lower categories and National Teams). There were also several differences found between the different playing positions amongst all playing levels in body mass (79.56 ± 2.41, 91.04 ± 1.51 and 104.56 ± 1.73 kg), height (182.28 ± 0.96, 195.65 ± 1.00 and 204.08 ± 0.67 cm), skinfold distribution and perimeters. However, there were no significant differences in body fat content between the different playing positions. The conclusions obtained from this study provide a better understanding to basketball specialists regarding the selection process of players at the elite level, especially on the transition from youth elite programs to men’s elite leagues.

Fernandez-Fernandez, J, García-Tormo, V, Santos-Rosa, FJ, Teixeira, AS, Nakamura, FY, Granacher, U, and Sanz-Rivas, D. The effect of a neuromuscular vs. dynamic warm-up on physical performance in young tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 34(10): 2776–2784, 2020—The aim of this study was to examine performance-enhancing (i.e., training) effects of a neuromuscular warm-up (NWU) compared with a dynamic WU (DWU) in young tennis players. Twenty-eight well-trained male tennis players with a mean age of 15.09 ± 1.16 years participated in this study and were assigned to either a training group performing NWU (n = 14), or a group that followed DWU (n = 15) before tennis-specific training, for 8 weeks. Pretest and posttest included: speed (5, 10, and 20 m); modified 5-0-5 change of direction (COD) test; bilateral/unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ); 2 kg overhead, forehand, and backhand-side medicine ball throw performance (MBT); serve velocity, and shoulder strength and range-of-motion (ROM) performance (i.e., internal [IR]/external [ER] rotation). Results showed that both groups, NWU and DWU, significantly improved their sprint performances (5–20 m; [p < 0.05; d = 0.83–1.32]), CMJ (bilateral and unilateral [dominant side] [p < 0.005; d = 1.27–1.59]), overhead MBT (p = 0.014; d = 1.02), and some shoulder strength (i.e., IR dominant side [D], ER D, ER/IR ratio [p < 0.05; d = 0.86–1.59]) and ROM (i.e., ER D, total ROM D [p < 0.05; d = 0.80–1.02]) values. However, the interaction effects revealed that NWU compared with DWU produced greater performance gains in most of the analyzed parameters (i.e., 5–10 m sprint, CMJ, overhead MBT, serve speed). The inclusion of an NWU characterized by a relatively low volume (∼20–35 minutes), including general mobility, core, and shoulder strength exercises, combined with neuromuscular-related exercises (e.g., plyometric and acceleration/deceleration/COD drills), can be recommended to obtain positive effects in tennis performance-related variables.

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The aim of this research was to assess the reliability of a specific change of direction test (i.e., “On-Court COD test”) in youth badminton players, evaluate the effect of age on On-Court COD performance, and examine its correlations with linear speed, change of direction speed, and vertical jump tests. Forty-two young badminton players (27 males and 15 females; age: 17.3±1.6 years, body height: 170.3±7.5 cm, body mass: 59.0±9.7 kg) were divided into two age groups (Under 17 years and under 19 years). Tests included: linear sprints (5, 10, and 20-m), bilateral/unilateral countermovement jumps, a hexagon test, traditional and modified 505 change of direction tests; and On-court COD. Results showed an excellent intraclass correlation coefficient score (0.90) and a very low coefficient of variation values (1.6%) for the On-Court COD test. Comparing age groups, under 19 players were significantly faster in linear sprints (i.e., 5, 15 and 20-m; small to moderate effect sizes) and in all change of direction tests (moderate to large effect sizes). Moreover, the On-Court COD test showed moderate to large (r=.513-.779) relationships with both acceleration and COD abilities in under 17 players, and with linear sprints, COD, and jump performances in under 19 players. These data indicate that the On-Court COD test is a useful and reliable means to assess COD performance in youth badminton players and it is associated with acceleration, sprint and jump performance.